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T4R first gen - Hard to shift first, second and reverse.
Hi guys!
My T4R's getting harder to shift, I noticed it in the last 100 miles. I don't have to apply force, it just feels like it grabs more when going into first and second gear and reverse, I have to push the clutch pedal to the floor and slowly shift gear.
I replaced all gear fluids when I got the truck, around 1500 miles ago. I put Castrol Syntrax Universal Plus 75W-90 in the transmission and transfer. That fluid fits the FSM specifications. The level're ok.
I'd like to solve this issue, what do you recommend me to do?
Thanks!
Last edited by SomedayJ; Sep 25, 2018 at 04:10 AM.
Are your master and slave originals or have they been replaced? Maybe bleed the clutch to make sure you are getting maximum engagement. I believe you can also adjust the rod on the clutch master that sticks thru the firewall to get a bit more travel out of it...in case yours hits the floor before bottoming out.
Hi @coryc85.
The master and slave are the original ones.
I should bleed the clutch to be sure.
A little detail I just remembered, the clutch pedal started to make a sound for a few days a month ago, a slight squeak everytime I pressed/pushed it. I couldn't here it anymore after 3/4 days. Maybe the problem's related to the pedal, I'm going to check that.
Thank you.
Could be the shifter seat bushing, mine was clunky to get into gear and occasionally popped out of 4th before I replaced it with a Marlin Crawler heavy duty bushing and seat.
I know this may sound bogus, but I had the same issue with a first gen 4Runner a few months after doing a drain and refill with a gl-5 fluid. I thought I had a synchro going out. After doing some research, I decided to drain it again and filled with Redline MT90. Within a week, problem went away and never returned.
Could be the shifter seat bushing, mine was clunky to get into gear and occasionally popped out of 4th before I replaced it with a Marlin Crawler heavy duty bushing and seat.
I know this may sound bogus, but I had the same issue with a first gen 4Runner a few months after doing a drain and refill with a gl-5 fluid. I thought I had a synchro going out. After doing some research, I decided to drain it again and filled with Redline MT90. Within a week, problem went away and never returned.
That's the reason I wrote the kind of fluid I put in the transfer in my first post, to help the diagnose. I read this also: "The Amsoil product is a PAO-based Group IV synthetic, and the Red Line is an ester-based Group V. Although I've been using the Red Line with excellent results, shifting-wise, I've learned that esters tend to absorb moisture, which can shorten the life of the oil and can lower its pH. So since I don't change my gear oil too often, I think I'll switch to the Amsoil when I next change it."
In here: https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/8...ard-shift.html
Anyway, I can find Redline here, but Amsoil's possible, a little bit expensive.
Last edited by SomedayJ; Sep 26, 2018 at 01:42 AM.
I recall reading that these transmissions do not like a modern gl-5 spec fluid, it is "to slippery" for the syncro to mesh properly. Or something similar.
I found a leak in the master cylinder, only a drop under the M.C. boot (see photo, inside red circle), nothing in the carpet, as far as I could see. The reservoir level's in the middle.
I also checked for clutch bracket fatigue in case that is the cause of the problem, but I can't see anything broken in there: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...fatigue-32667/
Do you think that is the problem? What do you recommend me to do?
Update: I replaced the master and slave clutch cylinder and the fluids in the transmission and transfer case, but this time I filled them with Amsoil 75W-90 API GL-4. Problem solved.
Glad to see you got it fixed. A note for others, a Toyota mechanic years ago told me that at the dealer they added ATF to the regular 90w when they put fluids in them at the dealership. I couldn't remember the exact proportions for sure and actually posted a thread on here a while back. I didn't get an answer but going off my memory I added a half pint of ATF to the tranny and transfer case when I changed fluid (had did this several times in the past, but it had been years and I couldn't remember if it was a half pint or a pint). Makes it shift much better when it is cold, if you add straight 80-90w to these they will shift stiff until they warm up and even then shift a little stiffer in cold weather. Adding the half pint of ATF cured that and it shifts as smooth when I go out and start it in January now as it does in August (actually smoother).
Sep 25, 2018 | 04:00 AM
